Southern Philippine Migrants in Bitung City:

Characteristics and Causative Factors

Burhan Niode

, Nasrun Sandiah

and Riane Johnly Pio

Political Science Study Program, Fisip Unsrat, Jl. Kampus Unsrat, Manado, Indonesia

Social Anthropology Study Program, Fisip Unsrat, Jl. Kampus Unsrat, Manado, Indonesia

Business Administration Study Program, Fisip Unsrat, Jl. Kampus Unsrat, Manado, Indonesia

Keywords: Area of Origin, Migration, Bitung City.

Abstract: The number of migrants from the Southern Philippines in Bitung City is significant because they have

reached the thousand mark. This research examines the causative factors that make Bitung City the

destination area for migrants from the Southern Philippines. This research uses a descriptive-qualitative

method and uses migrants from the Southern Philippines as informants. The research results show that the

consideration for migrating to Indonesian territory is due to the attachment to the ancestral land (Sanger-

Talaud region) and the relatively small income in the area of origin. Bitung City was the destination area

because the city has a fishing industry and a port town in North Sulawesi. This characteristic of Bitung City

guarantees them to get work, especially offers to work on fishing vessels.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4863-5764

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0952-5500

1 INTRODUCTION

Population migration of Sangir-Talaud descent and

Filipinos who settled in the Southern Philippines

region to Indonesia, both legally and illegally, began

in the early 80s (Raharto et al., 1993, p. 36). This

migration continues, and the migrants are spread

across several areas in North Sulawesi Province,

including Bitung City.

The research shows that migrants from the

Southern Philippines to the North Sulawesi Province

were born in the southern Philippines. Their

citizenship status is unclear because they do not

have residency or other identities (Pristianto et al.,

2013, p. 60). The existence of a reality like this

means that it is not surprising that the Bitung City

Government does not consider the presence of

migrants from the Southern Philippines in Bitung

City as Indonesian citizens.

A report from the National Unity and Political

Agency of Bitung City shows that in 2017, in Bitung

City, 1479 migrants from the Southern Philippines

did not have citizenship identity. Meanwhile, in

2021, 1148 migrants from the Southern Philippines

did not yet have citizenship status (Laporan et al.

2020 Tentang Orang Tanpa Dokumen Di Kota

Bitung, 2023). This number is quite significant when

viewed from a population aspect, primarily if it is

related to the addition or increase in population of

27,386 people over the last five years (2017-2022) in

Bitung City (Naungmapia, 2023).

Based on the various phenomena above, it is

relevant to study the presence of South Filipino

migrants who migrate from the South Philippines

spread across Bitung City, especially studies related

to the factors that are the reasons for international

migration to Indonesia, especially to Bitung City.

Several researchers have conducted studies

focusing on migrants from the Southern Philippines.

First, Raharto et al. (1993) researched the potential

that is owned and the natural potential and

businesses that can be developed in the areas they

want to go to (destination areas) in Indonesia to

support their lives after returning to Indonesia from

people from Sangir-Talaud who migrated to the

Philippines who wanted to migrate back to

Indonesia. Second, Kimbal et al. (2014), through

their research, identified problems related to illegal

border crossers from the Southern Philippines and

their distribution in the North Sulawesi region.

Third, Niode (2017) studied the political integration

138

Niode, B., Sandiah, N. and Pio, R.

Southern Philippine Migrants in Bitung City: Characteristics and Causative Factors.

DOI: 10.5220/0012641400003821

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 4th International Seminar and Call for Paper (ISCP UTA ’45 JAKARTA 2023), pages 138-143

ISBN: 978-989-758-691-0; ISSN: 2828-853X

process of Southern Filipino migrants in the Talaud

Islands Regency to obtain a Republic of Indonesia

Identity Card (KTP) in 2010-2014.

This research aims to study the causative factors

that make Bitung City the destination area for

migrants from the Southern Philippines.

2 LITERATUR REVIEW

2.1 Conception of Migration

In general, it is stated that migration is a permanent

or semi-permanent change of residence (Lee, 2000).

Meanwhile, the United Nations Population Division

(1994) defines migration as a change of permanent

residence from one particular geographic unit to

another. This second definition is similar to Rusli

(1989: 106), who says that a person is said to have

migrated if he or she moves permanently or

relatively permanently (for a certain minimum

period) by traveling a certain minimum distance or

moving from one geographical unit to other

geographic units. Geographical units often mean

administrative units of government, either countries

or parts of countries. According to Rusli (1989:

106), migration is a form of geographic, spatial, or

territorial population movement between geographic

units that involves a change of residence, namely

from place of origin to destination.

Spatial boundaries, namely countries and parts of

countries in the definition above, are identical to the

definition of migration put forward by Munir (in

Lembaga Demografi Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas

Indonesia, 2000: 116) that migration is the

movement of the population to settle from one place

to another beyond the political/state boundaries or

administrative/partial boundaries within a country.

From the definitions of migration above, an

initial conclusion can be drawn that migration is a

form of geographic, spatial, or territorial population

movement between geographic units involving a

change in residence.

2.2 Types of Migration

Based on geographical area coverage, Pressat (in

Raharto, 1997: 32-33) classifies migration into

internal and international migration. Internal

migration is migration carried out by individuals or

groups whose scope is still within the country.

Meanwhile, international migration refers to

migration across national borders. Thus, it can be

concluded that international migration crosses

political boundaries between countries.

International Migration can be classified into

several specific types, namely:

a) Permanent migrants (settlers), including

migrant workers and their families who later

follow them;

b) Temporary contract workers: generally

uneducated/skilled who live in the host

country for a certain period, usually two

years;

c) Professionals with temporary residence

permits: namely educated/trained personnel

who move from one country to another,

usually as experts, staff, or employees of

international organizations or multi-

international companies;

d) Illegal migrants (clandestine): namely those

who enter and stay in the receiving country

without supporting documents and

permission from the competent authorities;

e) Asylum seekers: namely those who enter

another country by applying for a residence

permit based on fear of punishment due to

ethnicity, religion, politics, organizational

membership, etc.;

f) Refugees: namely those recognized as

refugees according to the requirements of the

1951 UN Convention concerning the Status

of Refugees. Civil war and oppression are the

leading causes of genuine refugees (Weeks,

1998: 247).

From the various explanations above, it can be

concluded that the migrants who will be studied in

this research are classified as international migrants

because they are migrants from neighboring

countries in the Philippines.

2.3 Causative Factors of Migration

Many theories explain the reasons why a person or

group migrates. Mulyadi (2003: 129), for example,

explains that what drives someone to move is not

only determined by the fundamental factors that

exist in the area of origin (push factors) and

destination (pull factors) but is also determined by

the soul's perception of these factors. Personal

sensitivity, intelligence, and awareness of conditions

in other places influence his evaluation of the

conditions of his place of origin. Meanwhile,

knowledge about the conditions at the destination

depends on a person's relationships or based on

various information obtained. From this theory, it

Southern Philippine Migrants in Bitung City: Characteristics and Causative Factors

139

can be seen that three factors influence a person in

deciding to move, namely:

a) Factors found in the area of origin (push

factors), namely factors that will encourage

someone to leave their area;

b) Factors found in the destination area (pull

factors), namely factors that attract people to

move to that area;

c) Personal factors of the individual himself.

Munir (in Lembaga Demografi Fakultas

Ekonomi Universitas Indonesia, 2000: 119-120)

suggests that the factors that motivate a person to

migrate are:

a) The decreasing number of natural resources

available in the area of origin that can

provide a decent income;

b) Narrowing employment opportunities in the

area of origin due to the construction of

facilities/infrastructure and the use of pretty

sophisticated machines that dominate

activities more than the use of human labor;

c) There is political, religious, ethnic, and

customary discrimination in the area;

d) Not suitable for the living environment;

e) Work and marriage reasons, where it is felt

that it is difficult to change careers in the area

of origin;

f) Saturation of the existing sector in the area of

origin;

g) Compulsion, namely moving because they

have committed/caused a disgrace that the

people in the area cannot forgive;

h) Maintain personal safety due to conflict,

natural disasters, etc.

The pull factors for migration, according to

Munir (in Lembaga Demografi Fakultas Ekonomi

Universitas Indonesia. 2000: 120), are:

a) Feeling of superiority in a new place or

having an excellent opportunity to enter a

suitable job market;

b) Opportunities to gain better education/skills;

c) Environmental conditions supported by

facilities that provide a sense of security and

tranquility, peace and enjoyment;

d) Attraction from people who are expected as a

means of shelter;

e) Activities in big cities, entertainment venues,

cultural centers, and activity centers that

provide a unique color for village people who

previously did not witness and participate in

such things.

Economic factors are often considered essential

factors that encourage people to move or migrate.

However, international migration is also related to

the laws of the receiving and sending countries.

Political factors such as war, political disturbances,

and decolonization can also cause individuals or

groups to mobilize people across countries (Raharto,

1997, p. 32).

Meanwhile, according to Rich (in Ghazali et al.,

2015: 14-15), migration is determined by two factors

that influence each other: internal or push factors

and external factors or pull factors. Many driving

factors are determined by the conditions of the

country of origin, such as life prospects, gloomy

economy, ethnic and religious discrimination,

oppression, and so on. Common motivating factors

are usually economic, but many are also political or

both, such as the struggle for territory or the freedom

to determine the fate of one's group. Apart from that,

there are also forms of forced population movement.

Meanwhile, pull factors are determined by the

conditions of the destination place or country, which

usually has or promises a better situation.

3 METODE PENELITIAN

This study used a descriptive qualitative method.

Data and information were obtained through

interviews with sources, namely several officials and

migrants from the Southern Philippines who live in

Bitung City.

Data obtained through interviews and document

collection were analyzed through 3 (three) stages.

First, carefully record all information, notes, and

transcripts from in-depth interviews and document

collection. Second, the answers or information are

coded, grouped, or categorized (Creswell, 2009, p.

185). Third, data analysis was carried out using the

interpretation method (Creswell, 2009, p. 176) on

the answers or information provided by informants

from officials and migrants from the Southern

Philippines, both those who had obtained Indonesian

citizenship status and those who had not yet

obtained Indonesian citizenship status. The results of

the data analysis stage will illustrate various reasons

or considerations for making Bitung City a

destination area.

ISCP UTA ’45 JAKARTA 2023 - THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR AND CALL FOR PAPER (ISCP) UTA ’45 JAKARTA

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4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Characteristics of Migrants from

the Southern Philippines in Bitung

City

4.1.1 Citizenship Status and Its Implications

The data collection results of the National Unity and

Political Agency of Bitung City in 2021 found that

1,148 residents from the Southern Philippines did

not yet have citizenship status. The number of

migrants from the Southern Philippines constantly

changes because many do not live permanently in

Bitung City.

In Bitung City, migrants from the Southern

Philippines are spread across several districts in

Bitung City (North Lembe District, South Lembe

District, Maesa District, Artembaga District, and

Madidir District) and live in a community that

generally come from the Southern Philippines

coastal areas or plantations owned by residents on a

rental basis.

Table 1: Distribution of Migrants from the Southern

Philippines in Bitung City.

District Sub-District

Lembe Selatan Batulubang,

Aertembaga

Aertembaga, Aertembaha Satu,

Aertembaga Dua

Madidir Wangurer, Madidir Unet

Matuari

Manembo-Nembo, Manembo-

Nembo Atas Tanjung Merah

Girian Girian

The areas of origin of migrants in the Philippines

include Sarangani, Balut, Basilan, Davao, General

Santos, and Zamboanga de la Sore. These areas are

on the island of Mindanao.

The study results show that population migration

from the southern Philippines to Indonesian

territory, especially to the Bitung City area, is first

characterized by population migration of Filipino

descent. Moreover, secondly, population migration

from people who are still descendants of Sanger-

Talaud. To differentiate between migrants of

Filipino descent and migrants of Sangihe-Talaud

descent, you can identify them by surname or name.

The second group of population migration can also

be divided into two categories: those with an identity

or ID card as Indonesians issued by the Consulate

General of the Republic of Indonesia in Davao City

and those who do not have an identity or population

document.

Fishing workers on medium-scale fishing vessels

dominate the work of migrants from the Southern

Philippines because they have expertise in catching

fish. Migrants who have an Indonesian identity will

find it easier to get work as fishing workers

compared to those who do not have an identity or

population document.

4.1.2 Legal and Illegal Population Migration

Another thing described in this section is how

migrants from the southern Philippines entered

Bitung City. This is considered substantive because

of the consideration that population migration

carried out by migrants from the Southern

Philippines is classified as international migration

because it has crossed the country's territorial

boundaries, as well as the existence of an agreement

between the Government of Indonesia and the

Government of the Philippines (Agreement on

Border Crossing Between the Republic of Indonesia

and the Republic of Philippines) that the mobility of

residents and goods in border areas in both countries

must go through Border Crossing Entry and Exit

Stations.

The results of investigations through in-depth

interviews, both groups of migrants of Filipino

descent and groups of migrants of Sangir-Talaud

descent, show that the majority of informants

entered Indonesian territory without reporting at the

Border Crossing Entry and Exit Station either in the

Philippines (Mabila et al.) or in Indonesia (Marore

and Miangas) or entering Indonesian territory

illegally.

There are several reasons migrants travel by sea

from the southern Philippines to the Sangihe-Talaud

region using an unusual route ("rat route"). First,

avoid inspection by Border Crossing Entry and Exit

Station Officers because they carry goods that can

be traded in the destination area, including alcoholic

drinks. Second, some migrants have the status of

Filipino citizens, and some do not have ID cards as

Indonesians, so they avoid Border Crossing Entry

and Exit Station Officers. Third, there is reluctance

on the part of migrants to report themselves at the

Border Crossing Entry and Exit Station, both in the

Philippines and in Indonesia, because their

destination areas are far from the Border Crossing

Entry and Exit Station. Moreover, fourth, there is a

Southern Philippine Migrants in Bitung City: Characteristics and Causative Factors

141

habit among migrants not to report themselves at the

Border Crossing Entry and Exit Station when they

want to cross the border in the two border areas

because they assume that this route was the shipping

route of their ancestors and, therefore, does not need

to be restricted (Niode, 2017, pp. 137-142 ).

The information above describes a discrepancy

between the rules implemented in the Indonesia-

Philippine border area and reality. People of Sanger-

Talaud and Filipino descent who migrate from the

Southern Philippines to Indonesian territory tend to

use illegal routes for various reasons; for example,

the area they are going to is far from the Border

Crossing Entry and Exit Station and the migration

route they use is the traditional route which it was

also used by their ancestors so that the various laws

and regulations that were made were seen as

instruments to limit their space for movement. This

traditional population movement cannot be seen as

independent of the residents' reasons that they are in

an area that has long been a cultural unit (Hayase,

2004). This is used as a reference for residents living

in the border areas of Indonesia and the Philippines

so that migrating from the Southern Philippines to

Indonesian territory is not considered unlawful.

On the other hand, migrants who entered

Indonesian territory by reporting their arrival at the

Border Crossing Entry and Exit Station gave the

reason that their action in reporting their arrival in

the Indonesian border area was related to the

location of the Border Crossing Entry and Exit

Station which was close to their arrival location.

They could receive benefits when registered at the

Border Crossing Entry and Exit Station: protection

and freedom to visit all border areas. This is possible

because the Revised Agreement on Border Crossing

Between the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic

of the Philippines (Revised Border Crossing

Agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and

the Republic of the Philippines), which was signed

in 1975, stated that the agreement aims to regulate

the movement of the inhabitants who live in the

border area of Indonesia and the Philippines, as well

as to prevent violation of laws for the movement of

the population who live in border area of Indonesia

and the Philippines.

Agreement On Border Crossing Between The Republic

Of The Philippines And The Republic of Indonesia In

1974, Article II, III, dan IV.

4.3 Causative Factors Bitung City to

Be Used as a Destination Area for

Migrants from the Southern

Philippines

Judging from citizenship status, population

migration from the southern Philippines to North

Sulawesi Province is divided into two categories,

namely those who have an identity or ID card as an

Indonesian issued by the Consulate General of the

Republic of Indonesia in Davao City and those who

do not have an identity. The group of migrants who

do not have an identity in Bitung City is divided into

two groups: Sangihe-Talaud descent and Filipino

descent.

The study results show that they migrated to

Indonesia, especially those of Sangihe-Talaud

descent, due to their attachment to their ancestral

land (the Sanger-Talaud region) and the relatively

small income in their area of origin. Meanwhile, for

those of Filipino descent, the dominant factor that

makes them choose to migrate to Indonesian

territory is due to limited employment opportunities,

especially in the fisheries sector, as well as limited

capital for fishing businesses.

Bitung City was used as a destination area

because of the consideration that Bitung City is a

city in the fishing industry and a port city in North

Sulawesi, which was the main reason for making

Bitung City a destination location. Bitung City's

status guarantees them to get work, especially offers

to work on fishing vessels. Because migrants have

skills in catching fish and are tenacious in their

work, fishing boat owners often use the services of

migrants from the Southern Philippines to be

employed on fishing boats.

The reasons for migrating are based on

calculations of profit and loss. It was once concluded

by de Haas (in Noer, 2010: 160) that migration is a

rational, active actor who moves because of

economic calculations. The calculations made by

migrants are seen as individual efforts to seek more

benefits in the destination area, which cannot be

obtained in the area of origin. Furthermore, this view

assumes that when individuals have gained profits in

the destination area, they will either directly or

indirectly distribute what they have gained from the

destination area to their place of origin. In this way,

migration creates an economic balance between the

region of origin and destination (Noer, 2010, p.

160).

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5 CONCLUSIONS

The reason migrants from the Southern Philippines

migrate to Indonesian territory, especially those of

Sangihe-Talaud descent, is their attachment to their

ancestral land (the Sanger-Talaud region) and the

relatively small income in their area of origin.

Meanwhile, for those of Filipino descent, the

dominant factor that makes them choose to migrate

to Indonesian territory is due to limited employment

opportunities, especially in the fisheries sector, as

well as limited capital for fishing businesses.

Bitung City was a destination area for migrants

from the Southern Philippines because Bitung City

has a fishing industry and a port city in North

Sulawesi. Bitung City's status guarantees them to get

work, especially offers to work on fishing vessels.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to the Institute for Research and

Community Service, Sam Ratulangi University, for

funding this research through the R_MAPALUS

scheme, Fiscal Year 2023, Number:

448/UN12.13/LT/2023.

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